Thursday, October 7, 2010

My View

Random thoughts from a warped and fevered mind...

Have you ever experienced buyer's remorse? You know, you make a big purchase and then regret the cost associated with that purchase. Seems the voting public has been experiencing buyers remorse when it comes to Obamacare, the socialized medical program rammed through Congress earlier this year. In a Hill/Anga poll of voters in 12 Congressional districts across the nation that were characterized as "battleground" districts- districts where the incumbent is in danger of losing their Congressional seat- the poll found some surprising results. 56% of all likely voters want the health care law repealed. Amazingly, 25% of Democrats in the surveyed districts want the law repealed. Undecided voters want socialized medicine tossed out by a margin of 49% to 27% who are in favor of it. Voters have been apathetic and in some instances naive about the issues. One of the legacies of Obamacare is that socialized medicine will galvanize voters of all political persuasions to action. Incumbent Democrats running for re-election should be very wary of buyer's remorse.

Time is a great healer, but a terrible beautician.

There is no doubt that we all want to save energy. It's good for the planet, not to mention good for our wallets. Appliance makers, automakers, home builders, and numerous other industries have all embraced energy efficiency, with profitable results. The aspect of consumer and industry driven energy efficiency that is important is that each of us, whether an individual or a business, takes into account the cost of becoming more energy efficient. We do a cost benefit analysis and determine if the cost savings over time of a certain course of action, say installing an energy efficient water heater, is commensurate with the up front cost. These are market forces at work, and companies that make energy efficient products have to contain cost to satisfy this benefit analysis that we all do. That rational analysis is about to get skewed by the heavy hand of government. The Obama administration has initiated more than 20 energy regulations for everyday household appliances that is going to induce sticker shock for the American consumer. For instance, this year the Energy Department finalized regulations for residential water heaters, among others appliances. According to the Energy Department own estimates, these regulations will increase the cost of a hot water heater by $67 to $974, depending on the size and type. New regulations are coming for washers, dryers, and refrigerators. Unnecessary regulations and added costs are the end result of government intervention for negligible energy savings.

Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

Regular readers of "My View" know that I constantly criticize our profligate spending at the federal level and the ineptitude that is constantly on display in Washington. Much of my criticism, rightfully so, is directed at liberals that have a socialist bent and the inability to constrain spending. That criticism can also be directed at the Republican Party, the party of so-called fiscal constraint. Think that criticism is unjustified? Here is Tom DeLay, then House Majority Leader, quoted in a September 2005 Washington Times story that sorta leaves you speechless:

Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that we are declaring an on-going victory, and there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget."

Wow! Just... Wow. If one is wondering why our country is in such a financial mess, look no further. We have a ruling class in Washington that is either so intellectually dishonest or so stupid as to be dangerous. Maybe both. It is time for citizens in this country to get involved and understand the future is decidedly bleak if we keep going down the path our great nation presently treads. It doesn't matter if one is liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. We are in financial shambles in this country and we are all going to have to sacrifice and make some tough choices to correct these problems.

"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest?